In 1978 a group of engineers from the UK was working for a US company to develop a method for homeowners to change records on a record player from any room in the house. Their objective was to use plug-in products that would enable a homeowner to send a control signal from any room in the house over the home’s existing electrical power lines to change records.
A few years later, on their tenth experimental approach, they succeeded, and the company was named X10. Their efforts led the way to an affordable method of controlling electrical appliances, computer equipment, security systems, heating and air conditioning and lighting in the home. Prior to the X10 development, only homeowners with unlimited resources could afford to have professionals install proprietary wiring and products to automate the operation of their home systems. We consider the release of inexpensive DIY X10 products the birth of do-it-yourself home automation.
Today, home energy management has eclipsed all other comfort and convenience reasons for automating a home. The term “Smart Home” now signifies one that implements home automation technologies to increase energy efficiency, reduce its carbon footprint, and lessen the environmental impact created by the individuals living in that home. Fortunately there are currently many manufacturers developing and producing DIY products that allow homeowners to manage their home systems with preprogrammed time schedules and events which help conserve energy and save money.
A few years later, on their tenth experimental approach, they succeeded, and the company was named X10. Their efforts led the way to an affordable method of controlling electrical appliances, computer equipment, security systems, heating and air conditioning and lighting in the home. Prior to the X10 development, only homeowners with unlimited resources could afford to have professionals install proprietary wiring and products to automate the operation of their home systems. We consider the release of inexpensive DIY X10 products the birth of do-it-yourself home automation.
Today, home energy management has eclipsed all other comfort and convenience reasons for automating a home. The term “Smart Home” now signifies one that implements home automation technologies to increase energy efficiency, reduce its carbon footprint, and lessen the environmental impact created by the individuals living in that home. Fortunately there are currently many manufacturers developing and producing DIY products that allow homeowners to manage their home systems with preprogrammed time schedules and events which help conserve energy and save money.